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What is Judaism?
By Colleen Messina
1
According to Jewish tradition, in the ancient city of Ur, a boy
named Abraham boldly hit clay statues with a hammer. They
shattered. Bits of clay flew about the room. His father had made the
clay idols, but Abraham didn't like them. He believed in one God.
Abraham broke the statues when his father left him in charge of his
store. He destroyed all the idols...except one.
2
Abraham did something mischievous next. He placed the hammer
in the surviving idol's hands! Abraham's father was probably furious
when he discovered what his son had done. Abraham blamed the last idol on the
rampage, and his father said, "These idols can't do anything on their own, so you must
have broken them!" Abraham then had a good argument for his belief in one God since his
father had finally admitted that the idols were useless. He survived his father's wrath and
became one of the patriarchs, or founders, of Judaism.
3
Judaism is an old religion and is based on the belief in one God. It is at the heart of
both Christianity and Islam. It began with Abraham about 3,500 years ago. Abraham lived
in what is now Iraq. When he grew up, he tended flocks of sheep and wandered around the
desert looking for water and pastures. Jews believe that God spoke to Abraham and made
a covenant, or bargain, with him. In exchange for their obedience, Jews believe that God
made them his chosen people.
4
Abraham's people were called Hebrews, and later, Israelites. Being Jewish can mean
different things to different people. For some, it means being born into a Jewish family and
growing up with Jewish culture. For others, it also means following a way of life based on
the values of the Torah. These laws apply to all parts of life, even food. The food that strict
Jews eat is called kosher, which means fit.
5
The Torah is "the Law" of the Jewish faith. It is comprised of the first five books of the
Hebrew Bible. Jews believe it is God's instructions to them. It promotes the sanctity of life,
justice, and equality. Hospitality and charity towards others is also important. A Jewish
teacher named Hillel in around 700 B.C. summarized the meaning of the Torah. One day a
non-Jew came to him intending to make fun of the Torah. The non-Jew told Hillel that if
Hillel could explain the Torah while the non-Jew balanced on one foot, the man would
convert to Judaism. Hillel said, "What you think is hateful, don't do to your neighbor. The
rest of the Torah is commentary." The man was so amazed that he became a Jew and a
student of the Torah!
6
Jews also follow the Ten Commandments, and the story about these laws became a
popular movie by the same name. The Ten Commandments include things that people
should do, like keeping the Sabbath holy and honoring your parents. It also includes things
that you should not do, like kill, steal, commit adultery, or worship idols. Jews must pray to
only one God.
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7
Prayer is an important part of worship in Judaism. Jews are supposed to pray three
times a day. The Jewish prayer book is called a siddur, and the most famous prayer is the
Shema. The first line of this prayer is, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one."
Reading the Torah is an important part of Jewish worship. Jews have many prayers for
different occasions. Some prayers are said alone, while others are said in their synagogue.
8
The synagogue is the place of worship for Jews. Their Sabbath, or holy day, goes from
Friday at sunset to the following Saturday night. A rabbi conducts their services. The word
synagogue means "place of assembly" in Greek. There is no set type of architecture for a
synagogue, and the outer style of the building often depends on where it is. In Budapest,
Hungary, the Dohany Synagogue looks almost Islamic with its globe-shaped towers, while
in China, the Kaifeng Synagogue looks like a pagoda.
9
Certain things are always the same inside a synagogue. The bimah is a raised platform
where the Torah is read. A cupboard called the Ark holds the Torah scrolls. The Ark always
faces Jerusalem. Men often wear a head covering called a yarmulke and a prayer shawl
with tassels at both ends called a tallit. They also wear a pair of small black boxes that hold
passages from the Torah. The synagogue is a place for worship, but also for celebration.
10
Jews celebrate many festivals throughout the year. Jewish months last from one new
moon until the next, which is shorter than ordinary months. Jews celebrate Purim in
February or March. This holiday honors a Jewish queen named Esther. Passover comes in
March or April and celebrates the escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Rosh
Hoshanah is the Jewish New Year in September. Sukkot is a harvest festival and Yom
Kippur is a time of repentance. Both of these holidays fall in September or October.
Hanukkah falls in December and celebrates when the Israelites defeated a wicked king
and regained the opportunity to practice their faith.
11
Today, there are 12 million Jews in many countries of the world, but most of them live
in Israel and the United States. Jews have contributed in many areas of life. Albert Einstein
was one of the greatest physicists of all time, and Sigmund Freud developed the science of
psychoanalysis. Even some sayings that we commonly use come from the Bible. You might
be surprised at some of these! For example, the phrase, "a drop in the bucket" comes from
the book of Isaiah. Other light-hearted Yiddish (Hebrew) proverbs can make anyone smile,
such as, "To be rich is not everything, but it certainly helps!"
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Judaism?
1. Who is one of the founders of Judaism?
Alladin
Abraham
Alexander the Great
Akbar
2. Why did Abraham destroy the idols?
He believed in one God, not idols.
He was hyperactive.
He thought they were ugly.
He dropped them by mistake.
3. What is the name of the Jewish holy
book?
The Torah
The Koran
The Scrolls
The Tribune
4. What is the name of the place of worship
for Jews?
A mosque
A church
A temple
A synagogue
5. Which word is a synonym for a
"covenant"?
Promise
Test
Covering
Tupperware
6. Which city does the Ark face?
Mecca
Chicago
Bethlehem
Jerusalem
7. Which of the following are the names of 8. Where do most Jews live? Check all that
Abraham's people? Check all that apply.
apply.
Hebrews
Bosnia
Israelites
The United States
Hittites
Israel
Stalactites
Iran
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Judaism?
Do you think that the Ten Commandments have influenced our society today? Why, or
why not? If your answer is yes, give at least two specific examples.
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Judaism?
Do you think that certain values are common in many different religions? List three
universal values that exist in different faiths.
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What is Judaism?
By Colleen Messina
sanctity
proverbs
siddur
globe-shaped
flocks
rampage
adultery
kosher
repentance
covenant
rosh
light-hearted
idol
assembly
founders
Directions: Fill in each blank with the word that best completes the reading
comprehension.
According to Jewish tradition, in the ancient city of Ur, a boy named
Abraham boldly hit clay statues with a hammer. They shattered. Bits
of clay flew about the room. His father had made the clay idols, but
Abraham didn't like them. He believed in one God. Abraham broke
the statues when his father left him in charge of his store. He
destroyed all the idols...except one.
Abraham did something mischievous next. He placed the hammer
in the surviving (1) _______________________ 's hands! Abraham's father was probably
furious when he discovered what his son had done. Abraham blamed the last idol on the
(2) _______________________ , and his father said, "These idols can't do anything on
their own, so you must have broken them!" Abraham then had a good argument for his
belief in one God since his father had finally admitted that the idols were useless. He
survived his father's wrath and became one of the patriarchs, or
(3) _______________________ , of Judaism.
Judaism is an old religion and is based on the belief in one God. It is at the heart of both
Christianity and Islam. It began with Abraham about 3,500 years ago. Abraham lived in
what is now Iraq. When he grew up, he tended (4) _______________________ of sheep
and wandered around the desert looking for water and pastures. Jews believe that God
spoke to Abraham and made a (5) _______________________ , or bargain, with him. In
exchange for their obedience, Jews believe that God made them his chosen people.
Abraham's people were called Hebrews, and later, Israelites. Being Jewish can mean
different things to different people. For some, it means being born into a Jewish family and
growing up with Jewish culture. For others, it also means following a way of life based on
the values of the Torah. These laws apply to all parts of life, even food. The food that strict
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Jews eat is called (6) _______________________ , which means fit.
The Torah is "the Law" of the Jewish faith. It is comprised of the first five books of the
Hebrew Bible. Jews believe it is God's instructions to them. It promotes the
(7) _______________________ of life, justice, and equality. Hospitality and charity
towards others is also important. A Jewish teacher named Hillel in around 700 B.C.
summarized the meaning of the Torah. One day a non-Jew came to him intending to make
fun of the Torah. The non-Jew told Hillel that if Hillel could explain the Torah while the
non-Jew balanced on one foot, the man would convert to Judaism. Hillel said, "What you
think is hateful, don't do to your neighbor. The rest of the Torah is commentary." The man
was so amazed that he became a Jew and a student of the Torah!
Jews also follow the Ten Commandments, and the story about these laws became a
popular movie by the same name. The Ten Commandments include things that people
should do, like keeping the Sabbath holy and honoring your parents. It also includes things
that you should not do, like kill, steal, commit (8) _______________________ , or
worship idols. Jews must pray to only one God.
Prayer is an important part of worship in Judaism. Jews are supposed to pray three
times a day. The Jewish prayer book is called a (9) _______________________ , and
the most famous prayer is the Shema. The first line of this prayer is, "Hear, O Israel, the
Lord is our God, the Lord is one." Reading the Torah is an important part of Jewish
worship. Jews have many prayers for different occasions. Some prayers are said alone,
while others are said in their synagogue.
The synagogue is the place of worship for Jews. Their Sabbath, or holy day, goes from
Friday at sunset to the following Saturday night. A rabbi conducts their services. The word
synagogue means "place of (10) _______________________ " in Greek. There is no set
type of architecture for a synagogue, and the outer style of the building often depends on
where it is. In Budapest, Hungary, the Dohany Synagogue looks almost Islamic with its
(11) _______________________ towers, while in China, the Kaifeng Synagogue looks
like a pagoda.
Certain things are always the same inside a synagogue. The bimah is a raised platform
where the Torah is read. A cupboard called the Ark holds the Torah scrolls. The Ark always
faces Jerusalem. Men often wear a head covering called a yarmulke and a prayer shawl
with tassels at both ends called a tallit. They also wear a pair of small black boxes that hold
passages from the Torah. The synagogue is a place for worship, but also for celebration.
Jews celebrate many festivals throughout the year. Jewish months last from one new
moon until the next, which is shorter than ordinary months. Jews celebrate Purim in
February or March. This holiday honors a Jewish queen named Esther. Passover comes in
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March or April and celebrates the escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
(12) _______________________ Hoshanah is the Jewish New Year in September.
Sukkot is a harvest festival and Yom Kippur is a time of
(13) _______________________ . Both of these holidays fall in September or October.
Hanukkah falls in December and celebrates when the Israelites defeated a wicked king
and regained the opportunity to practice their faith.
Today, there are 12 million Jews in many countries of the world, but most of them live in
Israel and the United States. Jews have contributed in many areas of life. Albert Einstein
was one of the greatest physicists of all time, and Sigmund Freud developed the science of
psychoanalysis. Even some sayings that we commonly use come from the Bible. You might
be surprised at some of these! For example, the phrase, "a drop in the bucket" comes from
the book of Isaiah. Other (14) _______________________ Yiddish (Hebrew)
(15) _______________________ can make anyone smile, such as, "To be rich is not
everything, but it certainly helps!"
Copyright © 2007 edHelper
8 of 14
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Judaism?
1. Who is one of the founders of Judaism?
Akbar
Alladin
Alexander the Great
Abraham
2. Why did Abraham destroy the idols?
He was hyperactive.
He believed in one God, not idols.
He dropped them by mistake.
He thought they were ugly.
3. What is the name of the Jewish holy
book?
The Scrolls
The Tribune
The Torah
The Koran
4. What is the name of the place of worship
for Jews?
A church
A synagogue
A temple
A mosque
5. Which word is a synonym for a
"covenant"?
Tupperware
Test
Promise
Covering
6. Which city does the Ark face?
Chicago
Mecca
Jerusalem
Bethlehem
7. Which of the following are the names of 8. Where do most Jews live? Check all that
Abraham's people? Check all that apply.
apply.
Hebrews
Bosnia
Israelites
The United States
Hittites
Israel
Stalactites
Iran
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Date
___________________
Name
_____________________________
Circle the correct word.
1. no-jew
non-Jew
nonjew
non-jjew
10 of 14
(Key 1 - Answer ID # 0638378)
nan-jew
non-ew
2.
sanctoty
sancity
senctity
santity
sanctity
sactity
sangktahtee
snctity
3.
ieduhl
idoll
iddol
idol
idal
idool
udel
idl
4.
bima
bimmah
bumeh
bmah
bimahh
bimah
biimah
bimeh
5.
noon-jew
non-ew
nonjew
non-Jew
no-jew
nn-jew
6.
flos
foks
flaks
flooks
flocs
flok
floks
flocks
7.
shaawl
sawl
shiwl
shawl
shal
showl
shewl
shuwl
8.
sikkut
sukko
sukot
sokket
sukkoot
sukkot
sukkat
sukkott
9.
addultery
adulery
adultery
adultiry
adiltery
idaltery
edoltury
adulteery
10. sactity
senctity
sengktihtee
sancity
sanctity
santity
11. kosher
koser
koshor
keshur
kusher
kohsur
koshir
kosheer
12. bimah
bimahh
bimh
bima
biah
bmah
bimeh
bamih
13. rihlijuhn
relegion
rihlehjuhn
religion
religeon
riligion
relligoin
religoin
14. seddir
siddu
sidur
sidduur
seddur
siddurr
siddur
siiddur
15. kuhvuhnuht
covenent
covennant
cvenant
civonont
covinant
cavenant
covenant
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What is Judaism? - Answer Key
1
2
3
4
5
6
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Abraham
He believed in one God, not idols.
The Torah
A synagogue
Promise
Jerusalem
5/7/07 10:21 PM
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What is Judaism?
By Colleen Messina
Answer Key
According to Jewish tradition, in the ancient city of Ur, a boy named Abraham boldly hit
clay statues with a hammer. They shattered. Bits of clay flew about the room. His father had
made the clay idols, but Abraham didn't like them. He believed in one God. Abraham broke
the statues when his father left him in charge of his store. He destroyed all the idols...except
one.
Abraham did something mischievous next. He placed the hammer in the surviving
(1) idol 's hands! Abraham's father was probably furious when he discovered what his son
had done. Abraham blamed the last idol on the (2) rampage , and his father said, "These
idols can't do anything on their own, so you must have broken them!" Abraham then had a
good argument for his belief in one God since his father had finally admitted that the idols
were useless. He survived his father's wrath and became one of the patriarchs, or
(3) founders , of Judaism.
Judaism is an old religion and is based on the belief in one God. It is at the heart of both
Christianity and Islam. It began with Abraham about 3,500 years ago. Abraham lived in
what is now Iraq. When he grew up, he tended (4) flocks of sheep and wandered around
the desert looking for water and pastures. Jews believe that God spoke to Abraham and
made a (5) covenant , or bargain, with him. In exchange for their obedience, Jews believe
that God made them his chosen people.
Abraham's people were called Hebrews, and later, Israelites. Being Jewish can mean
different things to different people. For some, it means being born into a Jewish family and
growing up with Jewish culture. For others, it also means following a way of life based on
the values of the Torah. These laws apply to all parts of life, even food. The food that strict
Jews eat is called (6) kosher , which means fit.
The Torah is "the Law" of the Jewish faith. It is comprised of the first five books of the
Hebrew Bible. Jews believe it is God's instructions to them. It promotes the (7) sanctity of
life, justice, and equality. Hospitality and charity towards others is also important. A Jewish
teacher named Hillel in around 700 B.C. summarized the meaning of the Torah. One day a
non-Jew came to him intending to make fun of the Torah. The non-Jew told Hillel that if
Hillel could explain the Torah while the non-Jew balanced on one foot, the man would
convert to Judaism. Hillel said, "What you think is hateful, don't do to your neighbor. The
rest of the Torah is commentary." The man was so amazed that he became a Jew and a
student of the Torah!
Jews also follow the Ten Commandments, and the story about these laws became a
popular movie by the same name. The Ten Commandments include things that people
should do, like keeping the Sabbath holy and honoring your parents. It also includes things
that you should not do, like kill, steal, commit (8) adultery , or worship idols. Jews must
pray to only one God.
Prayer is an important part of worship in Judaism. Jews are supposed to pray three
times a day. The Jewish prayer book is called a (9) siddur , and the most famous prayer is
the Shema. The first line of this prayer is, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is
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one." Reading the Torah is an important part of Jewish worship. Jews have many prayers
for different occasions. Some prayers are said alone, while others are said in their
synagogue.
The synagogue is the place of worship for Jews. Their Sabbath, or holy day, goes from
Friday at sunset to the following Saturday night. A rabbi conducts their services. The word
synagogue means "place of (10) assembly " in Greek. There is no set type of architecture
for a synagogue, and the outer style of the building often depends on where it is. In
Budapest, Hungary, the Dohany Synagogue looks almost Islamic with its
(11) globe-shaped towers, while in China, the Kaifeng Synagogue looks like a pagoda.
Certain things are always the same inside a synagogue. The bimah is a raised platform
where the Torah is read. A cupboard called the Ark holds the Torah scrolls. The Ark always
faces Jerusalem. Men often wear a head covering called a yarmulke and a prayer shawl
with tassels at both ends called a tallit. They also wear a pair of small black boxes that hold
passages from the Torah. The synagogue is a place for worship, but also for celebration.
Jews celebrate many festivals throughout the year. Jewish months last from one new
moon until the next, which is shorter than ordinary months. Jews celebrate Purim in
February or March. This holiday honors a Jewish queen named Esther. Passover comes in
March or April and celebrates the escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. (12) Rosh
Hoshanah is the Jewish New Year in September. Sukkot is a harvest festival and Yom
Kippur is a time of (13) repentance . Both of these holidays fall in September or October.
Hanukkah falls in December and celebrates when the Israelites defeated a wicked king
and regained the opportunity to practice their faith.
Today, there are 12 million Jews in many countries of the world, but most of them live in
Israel and the United States. Jews have contributed in many areas of life. Albert Einstein
was one of the greatest physicists of all time, and Sigmund Freud developed the science of
psychoanalysis. Even some sayings that we commonly use come from the Bible. You might
be surprised at some of these! For example, the phrase, "a drop in the bucket" comes from
the book of Isaiah. Other (14) light-hearted Yiddish (Hebrew) (15) proverbs can make
anyone smile, such as, "To be rich is not everything, but it certainly helps!"
Answers to Reading Comprehension Questions
1
2
3
4
5
6
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Abraham
He believed in one God, not idols.
The Torah
A synagogue
Promise
Jerusalem
5/7/07 10:21 PM
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Answer Key 0638378
Key # 1
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1.
no-jew
nonjew
non-Jew
non-jjew
nan-jew
non-ew
2.
sanctoty
sancity
senctity
santity
sanctity
sactity
sangktahtee
snctity
3.
ieduhl
idoll
iddol
idol
idal
idool
udel
idl
4.
bima
bimmah
bumeh
bmah
bimahh
bimah
biimah
bimeh
5.
noon-jew
non-ew
nonjew
non-Jew
no-jew
nn-jew
6.
flos
foks
flaks
flooks
flocs
flok
floks
flocks
7.
shaawl
sawl
shiwl
shawl
shal
showl
shewl
shuwl
8.
sikkut
sukko
sukot
sokket
sukkoot
sukkot
sukkat
sukkott
9.
addultery
adulery
adultery
adultiry
adiltery
idaltery
edoltury
adulteery
10. sactity
senctity
sengktihtee
sancity
sanctity
santity
11. kosher
koser
koshor
keshur
kusher
kohsur
koshir
kosheer
12. bimah
bimahh
bimh
bima
biah
bmah
bimeh
bamih
13. rihlijuhn
relegion
rihlehjuhn
religion
religeon
riligion
relligoin
religoin
14. seddir
siddu
sidur
sidduur
seddur
siddurr
siddur
siiddur
15. kuhvuhnuht
covenent
covennant
cvenant
civonont
covinant
cavenant
covenant
5/7/07 10:21 PM